Kanofski addresses amalgamation

REGIONALISING services, rather than amalgamation, may be a better solution to the long term viability of local government in Central Queensland.

That will be the thrust of an address by Calliope Shire Council chief executive officer Graeme Kanofski to the upcoming Local Government Association of Queensland amalgamation conference in Brisbane on May 31 and June 1.

Mr Kanofski said the LGAQ had asked him to give a talk on 'Amalgamation ? 10 years on'.

"Basically I will address the issue of amalgamation 10 years after the previous process,'' he said.

This was in reference to the amalgamation processes during 1990 when a number of Queensland councils were merged. The shire council was caught up in the debate when it strongly opposed Gladstone City moves for the amalgamation of the two councils.

"Some time ago council had called for a study to be undertaken into the amalgamation that has taken place in Queensland asking whether it had produced the re-sults expected,'' Mr Kanofski said.

"I think the jury is still out on that issue.'' However, he said council believed there was considerable merit in investigating regionalising some common services to enhance the sustainability of individual councils.